Jasper Tambini won the 22nd edition of the monthly blitz at All Saints Church in Kingston on 30 September 2026 on tie-break from IM Peter Large, with both scoring 5/6
Jasper Tambini (pictured above) is always competitive at the All Saints Blitz, and it was his turn to triumph when the tournament resumed after its summer break. He lost to Chris Briscoe in round 3 – Jasper reckoned he had been swindled – but otherwise recorded five wins against very good opponents to finish on 5/6.
IM Peter Large, a multiple winner of the Blitz, had the same score, but lost out on tie-break. At the end of the tournament, Peter could be seen poring over exactly how the tie-break works. Strength of opponents seems to be the key, but I share Peter’s qualms about tie-breaks and have yet to find one that truly satisfies me. What a wonderful competitor Peter is. We can learn so much from his professionalism, limitless love for the game and the standards he sets himself.
Peter also scored five wins and a loss, with Robin Haldane claiming his scalp in round 5. “I think I have only beaten Peter once before,” Robin said later, “so the score must now be about 15-2 to him. Peter played the same line of the Sicilian against me where in the past I have swapped queens and got a slightly worse position and he has outplayed me. This time I improvised over the board, keeping the queens on, and managed to find some cheapo tactics where Peter gave up queen for rook and bishop, but had two very strong bishops threatening my king on the diagonals. It was very double-edged and could have gone either way, but I got lucky and managed to get a forced mate just before he got one on me. Having put a lot of effort into that game, I got completely outplayed in the last game [against Jasper] where I played passively against a London-type set-up.”
Robin is unfailingly modest and courteous, but he should never be underestimated in these tournaments. He is a fierce and highly creative competitor whose great strength derives from his inexhaustible desire to play, learn and innovate. Like Peter, Robin is always challenging himself to improve. Neither ever plays rote moves or a routine game. They never go through the motions.
Robin came joint third on 4/6 with Chris Briscoe, Epsom president Marcus Gosling and Alan Bracher, a strong player (he played for Cambridge in the Varsity match in 1968) who has returned to chess after a lengthy absence. Alan has a classical, highly principled positional style and crushed your correspondent in round 3, reducing my pieces to immobility. I also lost a (metaphorically) violent game against Alan Hayward in the final round to finish on a somewhat dismal (though thoroughly deserved) 2/6.
Thanks as ever to Edward Mospan for running the show and to All Saints Church for hosting us in their delightful Heritage Room. We do it all again, God willing, on Wednesday 28 October.
Stephen Moss is captain of Kingston Chess Club
Final standings
1: Jasper Tambini (Kingston) 5/6 (winner on tie-break)
2: Peter Large (Kingston) 5/6
3-6: Alan Bracher (Kingston) 4/6, Chris Briscoe (Surbiton) 4/6, Marcus Gosling (Epsom) 4/6, Robin Haldane (Streatham) 4/6